Saints backups impressed when filling in for injured starters vs. Bucs

The New Orleans Saints were without key players Marshon Lattimore, Andrus Peat, and Deonte Harris, but backups and fill-ins impressed.

The New Orleans Saints were in a tough spot in Week 11. Injuries struck a number of key starters, including cornerback Marshon Lattimore and special teams returner Deonte Harris (each battling hamstring injuries), as well as Pro Bowl left guard Andrus Peat (sidelined for an extended time with a broken arm). These injuries meant that a number of New Orleans Saints backups had to step up into starting roles, and luckily, they rise to the occasion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Let’s break it down.

Nick Easton in for Andrus Peat

New Orleans knows exactly what they have in Peat — a player that can execute most blocks and maybe get into the Pro Bowl as an alternate. However, Peat’s lengthy injury history (from his broken hand last season, to the broken leg the year before, to enduring ankle issues before that) and now a broken arm this season has kept him far from the discussion of the league’s elite.

Many fans believed that Will Clapp would take over for the injured Peat; however, it would be the veteran Nick Easton who would get the nod. Easton had spent much of the season as a healthy inactive before being called up for the Week 11 matchup with the Buccaneers. It was easy to see how Easton impacted the game, and how the Saints had made the right choice.

After taking six sacks against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10, quarterback Drew Brees stayed upright with zero sacks for the entire game against Tampa Bay. A large part of this was due to the fact that Terron Armstead had recovered from his bout with the flu, but credit must be given to Easton for his level of play next to him.

With Peat out for much of the regular season, Easton should be expected to get the majority of snaps at left guard, and it’s possible that the offensive line’s play will improve because of it.

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Ryan Ramczyk praises Nick Easton in first start, stresses need for consistency

New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk talked up the impact of backup left guard Nick Easton, and the importance of consistency.

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The New Orleans Saints bounced back in a big way against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rebounding from its worst performance in recent years a week earlier to move the Buccaneers defensive line at will. And much of that success came up front, off of the efforts of blockers like right tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

A surprise boost came from backup left guard Nick Easton, who filled in for injured starter Andrus Peat and ended up earning New Orleans’ highest grade on offense from Pro Football Focus. When asked whether he could sense Easton’s eagerness to get back on the field, Ramczyk confirmed it.

“Yes, definitely,” Ramczyk said during a conference call with New Orleans media. “When we’re out there he’s encouraging and you could tell he was excited and ready to go. He definitely had a good mentality about getting the start and I think he did a great job. Whenever you can have a guy like that who is vocal and trying to get the team going, it amps us up too. Definitely a positive.”

Still, Ramczyk had to double back to his unit’s poor performance against the Atlanta Falcons. Painful as that game was — the Saints ran for a season-low 52 yards, and allowed a season-high six sacks — it provided plenty of teaching moments for the Saints offensive line. And it also gave them some added motivation to carry into practice down the stretch.

“That Atlanta game was not what we’re about and something we weren’t proud of at all,” Ramczyk said. “There’s a lot of bad stuff that happened in that game and we looked at that film and corrected it. As an offensive line, like I said, we want to be able to run the ball. We want to be able to pass the ball.”

And the Saints accomplished both of those goals against Tampa Bay, despite the Buccaneers’ ranking as one of the NFL’s best run defenses (just 81 yards allowed per game). New Orleans racked up 109 rushing yards as a team and controlled the time of possession, holding the ball for 37 minutes. While the Saints passing attack didn’t put up eye-popping numbers, that efficiency was what they wanted to see.

Ramczyk continued: “Two of the most important things is keeping Drew [Brees] protected, keeping him clean, and then being able to open up the run game. Week to week, that’s something we take a lot of pride in and we try to hold ourselves to a really high standard in those two aspects. Like you said, it was uncharacteristic against Atlanta, but we’re going to get on this roll and keep going and playing our game, playing our football.”

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PFF grades Nick Easton as the Saints’ best offensive player vs. Bucs

The analysts at Pro Football Focus singled out left guard Nick Easton as the best New Orleans Saints player against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers boasted the NFL’s best run defense, but it didn’t matter against a New Orleans Saints offensive line that bullied them on Sunday. It’s not uncommon to see the Saints’ big blockers doing damage up front — four of the unit’s five starters were recognized at last year’s Pro Bowl or on the All-Pro lists. But what’s unexpected is how well the unit’s newest addition performed.

According to snap-by-snap charting from Pro Football Focus, backup left guard Nick Easton was the best Saints player on offense. Their grading system credited him with an 83.5 overall mark (third-best in the league this week, going into Monday Night Football) and a no-hitter in pass protection, with 37 snaps logged against the Buccaneers pass rush but no quarterback pressures allowed. Easton’s aggressiveness on run plays was a big part of New Orleans’ success, with the veteran often moving the man across from him before advancing to the second level.

Fans couldn’t have hoped for a better NFL debut for Easton in black and gold, especially given his lack of playing-time so far. Easton signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract with the Saints in the spring but had only played a handful of snaps on special teams going into Week 11. An unfortunate injury to starting left guard Andrus Peat opened the door for Easton to get on the field.

There was some debate among fans about who would start in Peat’s place, though Easton was the popular pick. The doubt surrounded his lack of appearances going into Sunday’s game. Easton was a healthy scratch in six of the Saints’ first nine games, with backups Will Clapp and Patrick Omameh ahead of him on the depth chart. Clapp and Omameh have the versatility to play both guard and tackle (and Clapp has proven he can hold it down at center in a pinch), but Easton’s limitations at guard and center kept him on the bench until the Saints needed him.

And they’re happy to have him. Saints coach Sean Payton can be counted among the group that was impressed by Easton’s performance, saying after the game, “He has been getting a lot of practice reps, but there wasn’t a lot of discussion. We felt like he was going to be the starting left guard. That gave us the ability to keep Will Clapp in his role. Nick [Easton] has played a lot of football in our league — he has started a lot of games. I am anxious to see the film because I think he played pretty well.”

Peat is going to be out about five more weeks while recovering from surgery on his broken arm, so that gives Easton plenty of opportunities to make plays for New Orleans. If he keeps up the pace he started with against Tampa Bay, he might just hold onto the starting job if Peat leaves in free agency in the offseason.

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Nick Easton gets the start at left guard for the Saints

The New Orleans Saints started veteran left guard Nick Easton in relief of injured starter Andrus Peat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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The New Orleans Saints are without starting left guard Andrus Peat for about six weeks following surgery on his broken arm, so they turned to veteran Nick Easton to fill in for him. It’s a surprising decision only in the sense that Easton hasn’t taken a single snap on offense since the Saints signed him to a four-year, $22.5 million contract earlier this year. Before Sunday’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Easton was a healthy scratch in six of the Saints’ first nine games.

Instead, New Orleans has preferred to activate backups Will Clapp and Patrick Omameh. That’s probably due to Clapp’s upside in overloaded offensive line sets, putting him out on the edge next to left tackle Terron Armstead or right tackle Ryan Ramczyk. Omameh can play both guard and tackle, making him a go-to reserve. That lack of versatility (Easton has only played center and left guard in the NFL) may help explain the decision to keep an expensive free agent on the bench after younger players like Peat and rookie center Erik McCoy won starting jobs ahead of him.

So now Easton is in the lineup, and he’s done a good job of avoiding mistakes early in the game against Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have a decent pass rush that’s improved with the addition of Jason Pierre-Paul, so he’ll have his work cut out for him as the afternoon continues.

It’s a big opportunity for Easton outside of the immediate playing-time he’s getting in relief of Peat. Peat is a free agent in the spring and likely going to earn a contract near the top of the market; if Easton plays well, he has to be the favorite to take Peat’s spot at left guard in the long-term. His contract features just $4 million in guarantees, making it a much more affordable deal for New Orleans than the totals may suggest. How he performs over the next six weeks could end up being even more important than it appears at first glance. He’s playing for his future.

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New Orleans Saints inactive report for Week 11 at Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers reported their inactive players for Week 11, including Deonte Harris and Marshon Lattimore.

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The New Orleans Saints are going to be without multiple key players during their game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with starters like Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Andrus Peat (broken arm) preemptively ruled out for Sunday on the final injury report. Rookie returns specialist Deonte Harris (also managing a hamstring issue) joined them. This could be the first look fans have at free agent guard Nick Easton, who signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract in the offseason but has only played a handful of special teams snaps this year behind Peat and backup Will Clapp.

However, the Buccaneers are also banged up. They cut their leader in snaps played at cornerback (Vernon Hargreaves III) earlier this week, and they’ll also have to sit their third corner, M.J. Stewart, who is battling a knee injury. The cornerback ranked second on the depth chart behind Hargreaves, Carlton Davis, was listed as questionable to play but Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said will suit up. Tampa Bay is also without two outside linebackers in Anthony Nelson and Carl Nassib.

Here’s the full list of players who are inactive for this game:

From the Saints

CB Marshon Lattimore
OL Andrus Peat
WR Deonte Harris
DE Carl Granderson
OL Ethan Greenidge
TE Dan Arnold
WR Austin Carr

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From the Buccaneers

CB M.J. Stewart
LB Anthony Nelson
LB Carl Nassib
CB Mazzi Wilkins
OL Aaron Stinnie
OL Jerald Hawkins
TE Jordan Leggett

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Deonte Harris, Marshon Lattimore ruled out on Saints-Bucs injury report

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers published their final injury reports for their Week 11 kickoff.

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The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers published their final injury reports for their Week 11 kickoff, complete with game status for some players based off of practice participation on Friday. Any changes to Thursday’s practice status are noted in bold text, and players listed without likelihood of playing on Sunday (whether they are Out or Questionable) should be considered ready to go.

Marshon Lattimore’s will not play in Sunday’s matchup with the Buccaneers after suffering a hamstring injury last week, and his availability in teh immediate future is under doubt. Deonte Harris’s status has not looked good all week and now he’s been ruled out, too, also with a hamstring injury. Andrus Peat was expected to miss this game (and the next few weeks) after having surgery completed on his broken arm. At least linebacker Demario Davis, fullback Zach Line, and cornerback Patrick Robinson are good to go for Sunday’s game.

From the Saints

KR/WR Deonte Harris (Hamstring) Did not participate, Out
CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) Did not participate, Out
G Andrus Peat (Forearm) Did not participate, Out
FB Zach Line (Knee) Limited
LB Demario Davis (Hamstring) Limited
CB Patrick Robinson (Hamstring) Full

From the Buccaneers

CB Carlton Davis (Hip) Full, Questionable
T Demar Dotson (Non injury related) Full
OLB Anthony Nelson (Hamstring) Did not participate, Out
CB M.J. Stewart (Knee) Did not participate, Out
G Ali Marpet (Ankle) Full
OLB Carl Nassib (Hamstring) Limited, Out

No changes to Saints injury report for Week 11 vs. Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers updated their injury reports ahead of their Week 11 kickoff on Sunday afternoon on Fox.

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Andrus Peat will be out for up to six weeks with a broken arm after the Week 10 clash with the Atlanta Falcons. This is a large blow to the New Orleans Saints interior offensive line. Now, Will Clapp or Nick Easton will have to help shoulder the load in protecting quarterback Drew Brees.

Marshon Lattimore is on a week-to-week basis with a hamstring injury, and no one should expect the cornerback to practice this week. While the blow to the offensive line can be more easily absorbed, Lattimore’s absence from the defense could produce some unwanted results within the secondary. A combination of P.J. Williams, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson will have to pick up the slack if Lattimore misses any type of time,

The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers updated their injury reports ahead of their Week 11 kickoff on Sunday afternoon on Fox. Each player listed has a designation for practice performance; changes from the previous report will be denoted with bold text. Here’s what we learned:

From the Saints

KR/WR Deonte Harris (Hamstring) Did not participate
CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) Did not participate
G Andrus Peat (Forearm) Did not participate
FB Zach Line (Knee) Limited
LB Demario Davis (Hamstring) Limited
CB Patrick Robinson (Hamstring) Full

From the Buccaneers

CB Carlton Davis (Hip) Limited
T Demar Dotson (Non injury related) Full
OLB Anthony Nelson (Hamstring) Did not participate
CB M.J. Stewart (Knee) Did not participate
G Ali Marpet (Ankle) Full
OLB Carl Nassib (Hamstring) Limited

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What will the Saints do without Andrus Peat?

The New Orleans Saints lost starting guard Andrus Peat for six weeks, putting Will Clapp and Nick Easton in the driver’s seat to replace him

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The New Orleans Saints offensive line took a hit on Wednesday when starting left guard Andrus Peat underwent surgery to repair a broken arm, putting him on the sidelines for about six weeks. So where do they go from here?

Peat’s immediate replacement is backup guard Will Clapp, who filled in for him during Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Clapp is a second-year player out of LSU with experience at both guard and center, though the Saints prefer him at guard. He allowed a few sacks to the swarming Falcons defense after being rushed into action.

Another name to watch out for is Patrick Omameh, who has been the final active lineman on most game days despite slotting in as a reserve after Clapp. He has started full seasons before at both left and right guard, though he didn’t play at a particularly high level. The experience he does have at starting often in the NFL can’t be undersold.

Additionally, the Saints can try and get some return on the investment they made in free agent blocker Nick Easton. New Orleans inked him to a four-year, $20 million contract earlier this year, though only the first year was guaranteed at the time of signing. However, Easton has been active for just three games this season, limiting his appearances to the special teams units. He obviously didn’t make a great impression on the coaching staff during the offseason.

Other candidates the Saints could look to on their roster include three rookies: Ethan Greenidge (a former left tackle for Villanova who started 43 games), Derrick Kelly (a Florida State product who played 34 games at both tackle and guard), and John Leglue (a local from Tulane who has played all five positions, plus long snapper).

To recap, here is how snap counts have shaken out for each of New Orleans’ offensive linemen through nine games, suggesting something similar to the in-house depth chart:

T Ryan Ramczyk, 609 (100%)
G Larry Warford, 609 (100%)
C Erik McCoy, 603 (99%)
T Terron Armstead, 598 (98%)
G/T Andrus Peat, 527 (86%)
G Will Clapp, 161 (26%)
G Patrick Omameh, 16 (2%)
G/C Nick Easton, inactive
T Ethan Greenidge, inactive
T/G Derrick Kelly, practice squad
T/G John Leglue, practice squad

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All eyes are on Marshon Lattimore on first Saints injury report

The New Orleans Saints will travel to take on Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11, but Marshon Lattimore and Andrus Peat are fighting injuries.

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The New Orleans Saints will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers in a Week 11 NFC South showdown. This will be the second matchup between the two teams, the first being a 31-24 Saints victory in Week 5.

The injury report this week will be crucially important as all eyes will be on cornerback Marshon Lattimore after a hamstring injury during Week 10. Lattimore has proven to be the best secondary player on the Saints defense, and with Buccaneer’s wideout Mike Evans lurking, an additional challenge has been wrinkled in to the Saints’ game plan.

The initial injury reports published by the Saints and the Buccaneers on Wednesday are the initial reports for the week. A second, updated report will be released on Thursday. The final injury report with game status for certain players will be issued on Friday. Daily changes in practice participation are noted in bold text.

From the Saints

KR/WR Deonte Harris (Hamstring) Did not participate
CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) Did not participate
G Andrus Peat (Forearm) Did not participate
FB Zach Line (Knee) Limited
LB Demario Davis (Hamstring) Limited
CB Patrick Robinson (Hamstring) Full

From the Buccaneers

CB Carlton Davis (Hip) Did not participate
T Demar Dotson (Non injury related) Did not participate
OLB Anthony Nelson (Hamstring) Did not participate
CB M.J. Stewart (Knee) Did not participate
G Ali Marpet (Ankle) Limited
OLB Carl Nassib (Hamstring) Limited

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Andrus Peat expected to miss six weeks with a broken arm

The New Orleans Saints lost starting left guard Andrus Peat to a broken arm against the Atlanta Falcons, and he’s expected to miss six weeks

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Bad news hit the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that left guard Andrus Peat suffered a broken arm in Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Peat went through surgery Wednesday and the team expects him to be sidelined for six weeks, per Schefter’s report. That would put him on the shelf until their Dec. 22 game with the Tennessee Titans.

It’s a big loss for the Saints. Despite his inconsistent level of play, Peat was their best option to start at left guard as well as the immediate backup for left tackle Terron Armstead. He’ll likely be replaced by his own backup, second-year pro Will Clapp, though free-agent signee Nick Easton should also be a candidate to get playing time. Easton has been a healthy scratch in six of nine games after signing a four-year, $20 million contract with New Orleans earlier this year.

It couldn’t come at a worse time for Peat, who is scheduled to test free agency in the spring. The 25-year-old is playing out the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, guaranteeing him $9.625 million in 2019. The sad state of offensive line play around the league means he’ll have plenty of bidders looking to pay him to start at either left tackle or left guard, and probably put him out of New Orleans’ price range even with this injury.

And injury concerns are something that has dogged Peat throughout his career: he’s never played a 16-game season, despite coming close in both 2016 and 2017 with 15 games played in each outing, though his 2017 season ended with a broken leg. He missed three games in 2018 due to a sprained ankle, concussion, and broken hand, but made the Pro Bowl as an alternate. A growing list of injuries, poor positional fits (the Saints tried him out at both tackle and guard on each side of the line before settling at left guard), and a probably-high price tag mean his days in New Orleans may be numbered.

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